The Fortune Cookie

The Fortune Cookie Review

By Christopher Null

This very funny Billy Wilder comedy actually stands as the first on-screen pairing of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and Matthau took home a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Whiplash Willie, a shyster attorney who convinces his cameraman brother-in-law (Lemmon) to sue the NFL when he's injured a football game, exaggerating his injuries. A bit long (over two hours), but Wilder's use of title cards to present numbered "chapters" keeps things moving along pretty well. The banter between Lemmon and Matthau is, as always, priceless.